Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

स्वस्तिकासनमारूढं विधाय प्राङ्मुखः स्वयम् । वरासनस्थितो मंत्रैर्महामंगलनिःस्वनैः

Transliteration

svastikāsanamārūḍhaṃ vidhāya prāṅmukhaḥ svayam | varāsanasthito maṃtrairmahāmaṃgalaniḥsvanaiḥ

Translation

Nach Osten gewandt, nahm er selbst die Haltung des Svastikāsana ein und setzte sich dann auf einen edlen Sitz, während Mantras—von großer Heilsverheißung widerhallend—rezitiert wurden.

Word by Word

• svastika-āsanam: the svastika seat/posture
• svastika-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svastika (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्तिक-नामकं आसनम्)

• ārūḍham: having mounted (seated upon)
• ārūḍham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'having mounted/ascended'

• vidhāya: having arranged/done
• vidhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थ: 'having arranged/done'

• prāṅ-mukhaḥ: facing east
• prāṅ-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñc (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (प्राङ् मुखः = पूर्वाभिमुखः)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक (reflexive adverb: 'himself')

• vara-āsana-sthitaḥ: seated on an excellent seat
• vara-āsana-sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √sthā)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (वरासने स्थितः)

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• mahā-maṅgala-niḥsvanaiḥ: with greatly auspicious sounds/intonations
• mahā-maṅgala-niḥsvanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (महामङ्गलः निःस्वनः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the Shaiva principle that outer order supports inner realization: a steady yogic seat, an east-facing orientation, and auspicious mantra-sound prepare the mind (paśu) to turn toward Pati (Śiva) and loosen the bonds (pāśa) through focused devotion.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse describes the preparatory discipline of worship—proper āsana and mantra—commonly performed before Linga-pūjā. In Saguna worship, mantra and ritual posture stabilize attention so the devotee can contemplate Śiva’s presence in the Linga as the accessible form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sit steadily in a composed āsana (svastikāsana), face east for worship/meditation, and recite auspicious Shaiva mantras—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with clear, reverent sound to establish concentration.